U.S. patent application number 11/308398 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-01 for method and tool for placing a well bore liner.
This patent application is currently assigned to BBJ TOOLS INC.. Invention is credited to BRADLEY R. COTE.
Application Number | 20070023192 11/308398 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37054338 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070023192 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
COTE; BRADLEY R. |
February 1, 2007 |
METHOD AND TOOL FOR PLACING A WELL BORE LINER
Abstract
A well bore liner placement method and apparatus, including
inserting a liner running assembly carrying a liner into a well
bore, the assembly including a liner placement apparatus having an
annular seal extending radially to sealingly engage the well bore,
and pumping fluid into the annulus above the annular seal until
fluid pressure on the upper surface area of the annular seal
creates a force exceeding opposing bottomhole forces below the
annular seal and thereby driving the liner down the well bore.
Inventors: |
COTE; BRADLEY R.; (Calgary,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BENNETT JONES;C/O MS ROSEANN CALDWELL
4500 BANKERS HALL EAST
855 - 2ND STREET, SW
CALGARY
AB
T2P 4K7
CA
|
Assignee: |
BBJ TOOLS INC.
115 Dalcastle Mews NW
Calgary
CA
|
Family ID: |
37054338 |
Appl. No.: |
11/308398 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60594224 |
Mar 21, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/380 ;
166/202; 166/383 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 43/10 20130101;
E21B 33/126 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/380 ;
166/383; 166/202 |
International
Class: |
E21B 19/16 20060101
E21B019/16 |
Claims
1. A liner placement tool for use in a well bore, comprising a tool
body and an annular seal extending radially about the tool body for
sealingly engaging the well bore, the tool body having a lower end
engageable with a well bore liner.
2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the tool body further comprises an
axial channel extending from the lower end to an upper end.
3. The tool of claim 2, wherein the axial channel is
fluid-communicatingly engageable at the upper end with a tubing
string and at the lower end with the well bore liner.
4. The tool of claim 1, further comprising at least one non-axial
port extending through the tool body.
5. The tool of claim 4, wherein the port is selectably
openable.
6. The tool of claim 5, wherein the port further comprises a
valve.
7. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a connecting element at
the lower end for engaging the well bore liner.
8. The tool of claim 1, wherein the annular seal comprises at least
one swab cup seal.
9. The tool of claim 1, further comprising at least one annular
swab cup.
10. The tool of claim 1, further comprising at least one
stabilizer.
11. A liner placement system for use in a well bore, comprising:
(a) a liner retainer; (b) a liner placement tool connectable to the
liner retainer including a tool body, an inner axial channel
extending through the tool body and an annular seal extending
radially about the tool body; (c) an upper end for accepting
connection of a tubing string; and, (d) and a lower end on the
apparatus for accepting connection of a well bore liner.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the liner retainer comprises a
liner hanger.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the tool is disposed below the
liner retainer.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the tool is disposed above the
liner retainer.
15. A method of placing a well bore liner, comprising: (a)
inserting a liner running assembly from surface into a well bore
and defining an annulus between the liner running assembly and the
well bore, the liner running assembly comprising a liner placement
apparatus having an annular seal with an upper surface area, the
annular seal extending radially about the liner placement apparatus
for sealingly engaging the well bore, the liner placement apparatus
engaging at an upper end thereof a tubing string and engaging at a
lower end thereof a well bore liner, and the well bore having an
inlet at surface; (b) running the liner running assembly to a
selected depth; (c) packing off the annulus above the inlet; (d)
pumping fluid into the annulus through the inlet above the annular
seal until fluid pressure on the upper surface area of the annular
seal creates a force at least equal to opposing bottomhole forces
below the annular seal; (e) continuing to pump fluid into the
annulus through the inlet to drive the liner down the well
bore.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of driving
the liner down the well bore to a final depth and retrieving the
tubing string.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising circulating fluid
from the tubing string into the liner for replacement of fluid
displaced during retrieval of the tubing string.
18. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing a fluid
replacement mechanism.
19. The method of claim 18, the fluid replacement mechanism
comprising valving.
20. The method of claim 18, the fluid replacement mechanism
comprising a fluid bypass.
21. A method for running a well bore liner into a well bore having
a wall, the method comprising: (a) providing a liner and liner
running assembly having: (i) a tubing string, (ii) a liner retainer
for holding the liner in place in the well bore, the liner and
liner retainer being attached adjacent a lower end of the tubing
string, and (iii) an annular seal selected to sealingly couple the
liner running assembly and the well bore wall; (b) running the
liner and liner running assembly into the well bore; (c) applying
force to the tubing string to move the liner into the well bore;
and, (d) pumping fluid into an annulus between the tubing string
and the well bore wall to exert a fluid pressure on an upper
surface area of the annular seal.
22. The method of claim 17, further comprising retrieving the
tubing string.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to well bore liner placement
methods and tools.
BACKGROUND
[0002] When running in a well bore liner, such as for example, a
slotted liner, the liner is run in using force applied from
surface. The liner is often run in through surface cased portions
of the well bore and then into open hole. The liner is often
mounted adjacent its uphole end to a liner hanger and thereabove a
tubing string, for example, including a plurality of interconnected
of tubulars, such as drill pipe. As the liner reaches increased
depths, the surface manipulation may become less effective, and the
drill pipe above the liner hanger may begin to buckle rather than
communicating the force to move the liner to total depth.
[0003] As such, often a liner placement procedure must be ceased
before the liner actually reaches an optimal depth. Thus, a portion
of the well bore may remain unlined, which is economically
undesirable.
SUMMARY
[0004] In the following description of the invention, it is to be
understood that although the reference is made a borehole and/or
well bore and the wall of the borehole and/or well bore, it is to
be understood that the borehole could be open hole or lined. For
example, the terms borehole/well bore have been used to include
cased boreholes and the term borehole wall in that case would
actually be the inner surface of the casing lining the well
bore.
[0005] In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
liner placement tool for use in a well bore, including a tool body
and an annular seal extending radially about the tool body for
sealingly engaging the well bore, the tool body having a lower end
engageable with a well bore liner. The tool may include an axial
channel extending from the lower end to an upper end, which may
further be fluid-communicatingly engageable with a tubing
string.
[0006] In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a
system for assisting the placement of a well bore liner in a
borehole, the system comprising: a liner retainer, a liner
placement assist tool connectable to the liner retainer including a
tool body, an inner axial channel extending through the tool body
and an annular seal extending radially about the tool body, an
upper end on the apparatus for accepting connection of a tubing
string, and a lower end on the apparatus for accepting connection
of a well bore liner.
[0007] In yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a
method of placing a well bore liner, comprising inserting a liner
running assembly from surface into a well bore and defining an
annulus between the liner running assembly and the well bore, the
liner running assembly comprising a liner placement apparatus
having an annular seal with an upper surface area, the annular seal
extending radially about the liner placement apparatus for
sealingly engaging the well bore, the liner placement apparatus
engaging at an upper end thereof a tubing string and engaging at a
lower end thereof a well bore liner, and the well bore having an
inlet at surface; running the liner running assembly to a selected
depth; packing off the annulus above the inlet; pumping fluid into
the annulus through the inlet above the annular seal until fluid
pressure on the upper surface area of the annular seal creates a
force at least equal to opposing bottomhole forces below the
annular seal; continuing to pump fluid into the annulus through the
inlet to drive the liner down the well bore. In accordance with a
method of the invention, the annular seal is selected to create a
seal between the tubing string and the well bore wall capable of
holding pressure in the annulus between the tubing string and the
wall, creating a high fluid pressure region in the annulus above
the annular seal which, in combination with the upper surface area
of the annular seal upon which such fluid pressure acts, creates a
downward force sufficient to overcome opposing forces which would
inhibit downward movement of the liner (such as liner, or down,
drag) below the annular seal to thereby drive the liner into the
borehole.
[0008] In another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method for running a well bore liner into a borehole
comprising: providing a liner and liner running assembly including
a tubing string, a liner retainer for holding the liner in place in
the borehole (such as, for example, a liner hanger or packer)
attached adjacent a lower end of the tubing string, and an annular
seal selected to sealingly couple the liner running assembly and
the borehole wall, running the liner and liner running assembly
into the well bore, applying force to the tubing string to move the
liner into the well bore, pumping fluid into an annulus between the
tubing string and the borehole wall to exert a fluid pressure on
the upper surface area of the annular seal thereby creating a
downward force on the annular seal greater than opposing forces
below the annular seal such that the annular seal begins to act as
a piston to drive the liner further into the borehole.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a borehole including
an assembly for assisting the placement of a well bore liner.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a section along line 1-1 of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevation of an embodiment of a
tool for assisting the placement of a well bore liner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
[0012] With reference to FIG. 1, a borehole 112 is shown into which
a well bore liner is being run. In the illustrated embodiment, the
borehole 112 is lined along a portion of its length with casing 114
such that the well bore wall 116 coincides with the inner wall of
the casing and thereby defines the casing inner diameter. It is to
be understood however, that this may not always be the case. For
example, the borehole could be unlined or the casing could be
another form of well bore liner. Also in the illustrated
embodiment, the liner 118 being run in is a slotted liner, but it
is to be understood that the liner may take other forms such as a
well bore screen, a solid liner, and so forth.
[0013] As is common, the liner 118 is connected below a liner
hanger 120 and a drill string 122, but according to the present
invention a liner placement assist tool 124 is positioned to create
a seal in the annulus 126 between the liner 118 or drill string 122
and the well bore wall 116. Although the embodiment of FIG. 1 shows
the liner placement assist tool 124 below the liner hanger 120, the
tool can be positioned variously for example above or below the
liner hanger and on the drill string or even about the liner being
run in.
[0014] With reference also to FIG. 2, the liner placement assist
tool 224 includes a tool body 228 and an annular seal 230 extending
annularly about the tool body 228. The tool body 228 may include an
axial channel or bore 232 extending between its ends such that when
it is connected into a drill string or between the drill string and
the liner, the bore 232 provides communication with the inner
diameter of the drill string, thereby permitting flow of drilling
fluid therethrough. The annular seal 230 may be selected to hold
pressure in the annulus between the drill string and the casing
inner wall 216 so that a pressure differential can be created on
either side of the seal 230. An annular seal may take various
forms. In one embodiment, the annular seal may include one or more
swab cup seals, while in other embodiments the annular seal may
include other flexible yet sealing elements.
[0015] Briefly with reference to FIG. 1, a well bore liner 118 may
be run into a borehole 112 by inserting a well bore liner 118 into
a borehole 112, the liner 118 being carried on a tubing string 122
such as the illustrated drill string, carrying an annular seal 130
thereabout selected to create a seal between the tubing string 122
and the borehole wall 116 capable of holding pressure in the
annulus 126 between the tubing string 122 and the borehole wall
116, creating a high fluid pressure region in the annulus 126 above
the annular seal 130 and exerted upon the upper surface area 131 of
the annular seal 130 to create a force higher than opposing forces
below the annular seal 130 such that the force is applied against
the annular seal 130 drives the liner 118 into the borehole
112.
[0016] Generally, the liner 118 will be run in to a particular
depth first by applying force to the tubing string 122 to move the
liner 118 into the borehole 112. However, if and when it is
determined that further force applied through the tubing string 122
will be ineffectual or undesired, fluid can be pumped through an
inlet 134 into the annulus 126 between the tubing string 122 and
the borehole wall 116 to create a fluid pressure above the annular
seal 130 which, acting upon the upper surface area 131 of the
annular seal 130, creates a downward force greater than the
opposing forces below the annular seal 130 and the annular seal 130
begins to act as a piston to drive the liner 118 further into the
borehole. Any surface area of the tool body 128 or the annular seal
130 that extends beyond the outer diameter of the tubing string 122
may operate as a piston face. As will be appreciated, skilled
workmen may be able to calculate the pressure holding capacity of
an annular seal and force generating capability for tools of
various sizes.
[0017] An embodiment of the method of the invention, with reference
to FIG. 1, may include following: [0018] 1. Pick up a desired
amount of well bore liner 118. [0019] 2. Install a liner placement
assist tool 124 and a liner hanger 120 on top of the liner 118 and
install this liner 118 and liner running assembly 110 on a tubing
string 122. The liner placement assist tool 124 may have an annular
seal 130 selected to create a seal in the annulus 126 between the
tubing string 122 and the casing 114 of well bore into which the
liner 118 is to be run. [0020] 3. Run the entire assembly 110 in
hole on a tubing string 122 using rig overhead equipment until the
liner 118 reaches a predetermined resistance (that is, down drag)
number]. In this procedure, fluid displaced from below the liner
placement assist tool can move back up about the end of the liner
118 or through the slots 136 where the liner 118 is a slotted liner
and up through the tubing string 122 to surface, for example, to
mud tanks. During this procedure the annulus 126 above the annular
seal 130 may also be open such that fluid displaced above the
annular seal by the tubing string can move up through the
casing/tubing string annulus 126 to surface, for example to mud
tanks. [0021] 4. Once predetermined resistance on the liner 118 is
reached, the surface annulus around the drill string may be packed
off (such as by pack-off 138) to close in the annulus 126 and fluid
can be pumped through inlet 134 into the casing/drill string
annulus 126 to increase pressure above the annular seal 130 of the
liner placement assist tool 124. The fluid pressure on the annular
seal 130 may be regulated to create sufficient force to drive the
liner 118 down into the hole 112. However, as will be appreciated,
the pressure may be regulated to avoid exceeding any pressure
limits of the system including for example, any of: an annular seal
pressure holding limit, a liner buckling limit, a surface pack off
pressure limit, a liner placement assist tool pressure limit, a
casing pressure limit, and/or a drill pipe or liner collapse limit.
[0022] 5. Once the liner 118 is advanced sufficiently toward total
depth, the tubing string 122 and any other components of interest
may be retrieved to surface.
[0023] Of course, it is to be understood that embodiments of the
method of the invention are not limited to the apparatus
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0024] In those embodiments of the inventive method in which the
liner placement assist tool is retrieved to the surface, the
annular seal may act to swab fluid from the casing. If swabbing is
not desired, fluid may be circulated down through the tubing string
into the liner to replace the fluid displaced by swabbing.
Alternatively, other fluid replacement mechanisms may be provided
in the tool, such as, without limitation, a valving system or fluid
bypass. For example, with reference to FIG. 3, a liner placement
assist tool 324 is shown including a tool body 328 formed for
supporting a pair of annular swab cups 340. The tool 324 may
optionally be provided with stabilizing elements 350 (including
centralising elements), such as blades; in some embodiments, the
annular swab cups may be adapted to fulfill such function. The tool
body 328 also includes a main bore 332 extending from an upper
threaded connection 342, into which a liner hanger or tubing or
drill string may be connected, and a lower threaded connection 344,
for connection of a liner hanger, drill string tubular or liner.
The tool body 328 of FIG. 3 also includes one or more ports 346
(two are shown) extending alongside, but not in communication with,
the main bore 332. Each port 346 may house a check valve 348 which
permits circulation of fluid past the tool 324 upwardly through the
annulus, as may be useful during run in of a liner. However, the
check valve may be selected to hold pressure when applying annulus
pressure to the swab cups 340 to drive the liner advancement toward
bottom hole. In various other embodiments, other mechanisms for
opening or closing ports may be employed, such as, without
limitation, other types of valves.
[0025] In such an embodiment, retrieval of the tool may also create
a swabbing effect on the hole. Thus, as noted above, the hole can
be filled through the drill string as the tool is tripped out.
Alternatively, or in addition, shearable-type check valves may be
mounted in the ports. Alternatively, a sub of the pump-out variety
can be run above the tool. Such a sub may be selectively openable
to provide communication between the outer surface and the inner
diameter of the drill string. This sub could be opened after the
running assembly is disconnected from the liner such that
communication could be provided from the annulus to the inside of
the drill string allowing the fluid being swabbed above the liner
placement assist tool to drain and fill the hole.
[0026] Since the liner placement assist tool may have an inner bore
diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter of the liner, the
tool may be beneficially run above the liner hanger and retrieved
with the liner hanger running tool.
[0027] The liner placement tool may be formed in various ways. The
embodiment of FIG. 3 illustrates that the tool may be formed in
sections that are connected together such as by the threaded
connections 352 to facilitate manufacture and assembly, but of
course other connections (such as welded connections, etc.) could
be used, or the tool could have a unitary or other type of
construction.
[0028] Various embodiments have been described herein but are only
to be considered illustrative, rather than limiting, of the
invention. A skilled person will readily appreciate that various
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
* * * * *